Hammerdrone – A Demon Rising EP

‘A Demon Rising’ is the debut EP from the Canadian blackened death metal band Hammerdrone.

First up is the title track with some Behemoth-style death metal guitar riffs. The singer’s growling or more accurately gurgling reminds me a little of other death metal acts such as Six Feet Under. There’s also hints of early Amon Amarth in some of the guitar patterns and the vocal style which can be heard on ‘Last Stand On Gibraltar’. Though unlike Amon Amarth, these guys have also incorporated a thrash metal tinge to their guitars, hence the Behemoth comparison.

‘Another Winter’ has an atmospheric intro in which the guitars provide a contrast the eeriness of the howling wind in the background before the vocals kick in. That particular track offers some pleasant sounding melodic guitar riffs. In ‘Annihilation In Equilibrium’ the emphasis shifts briefly towards the vocals which vary from growls to the occasional shout before the EP reaches its climax with an impressive guitar solo towards the latter half of the track.

Overall this is EP offers a range of different styles from death metal, melo-death to blackened death metal. Their style may not be the easiest to categorize but that only adds to the appeal.